I keep finding unexpected connections. Ellen H. came to the open house of my listing on Forest Avenue recently, scouting for young friends. We had a pleasant talk and she left with my card with the calendar on the back.

When I called her to tell her that the property had sold that day, with two buyers bidding the price up beyond the asking price, I asked her how I could help her young friends.

She told me that one of the couples had just found a place on Lone Oak Road, on the other side of town.“I know Lone Oak,” I said.“In fact, I have friends who live in a historic property on Lone Oak.”

As I started to tell her about the Underground Railroad connection, the house built in 1836, the friends who did Civil War re-enactments, etc., she interrupted me.She knows that house and its current owners.

She knew the house well - her husband grew up in the historic home that his family had bought it in 1968.

Allison and Ken Gilliam, my friends who have owned it since2003, had invited Ellen’s students at Ashley Academy to come see the house and had greeted them in costumes, tents in the yard, a sort of re-enactment– a memorable day for the students.I’ll add a picture as soon as I get one.The house itself is charming, but what my grandson remembers most vividly is looking for eggs in the barn when he was younger.

I told Ellen that Allison had a lavender shop in Jonesborough where you can find any thing you can imagine that is made with lavender.She knew about that also – I think it was her son who had bought something there.

We had a pleasant conversation sharing serendipities.

The home was built in 1836 and has access to the Underground Railroad.It sits on 23.52 acres at the corner of Lone Oak and South Greenwood, and is now listed asa commercial parcel (not my listing) on the market for $1,555,555, looking for a buyer who can be creative about using the house as “centerpiece of student housing, condos or PUDs or even retail center.”Some acreage that has access from Herrin Drive can be purchased for $57,000 per acre.